Party Planner

new-use tuesdays: aluminum foil

Party Planner

new-use tuesdays: aluminum foil

I’ve always admired my mother, the ultimate frugal homemaker. No matter what issue popped up (and something always did), she had a handy solution, often repurposing something readily available in our home. In tribute to her, I’m starting “new-use Tuesdays” – a weekly dose of you new ways to utilize familiar items. This week I’m putting the spotlight on aluminum foil.
I’d be totally lost without aluminum foil. I love it for easy campfire-style potatoes in the
slow cooker (just wrap them individually and toss right in!), and I always line my bakeware with it to make cleanup a snap. But if you only use your aluminum foil for your cooking, you’re seriously missing out. Discover three of this go-to’s alter egos. 1. Paint guard: Next time you
paint, keep those doorknobs and cabinetry hardware clean the easy way by covering them with aluminum foil. It’s easier and more effective than using painter’s tape. 2. Scouring pad stand-in: When you have some badly burnt on food on your ovenware but don’t have a scouring pad handy, a scrunched-up ball of aluminum foil can do the trick. Just be sure to spot test first! 3. Makeshift funnel: When you set a beautifully table, you don’t want to put out dressings, sauces and condiments in their lacklustre original packaging. Use aluminum foil to create an ersatz funnel for transferring them in and out of your
serveware with ease. (Less mess and less waste makes Mary a happy hostess.) Do you have any other uses for this household staple? Leave a comment below.

1 Divide the dough in half; shape one half into a ball, folding the ends underneath and pinching at the bottom. Roll the ball on a work surface in a circular motion until seamless. Repeat with the remaining dough.

2 Cover the dough with a clean tea towel and let rise for 15 minutes.

3 In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup of the butter, the garlic, 1 teaspoon of the thyme and the pepper; set aside.

4 On a lightly floured surface, roll out each dough ball into a 12" circle. Place one circle on a rimless parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spread the butter mixture on top, leaving a 1/2" border.

5 Sprinkle with all but 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan; press gently to adhere. Brush the edge of the circle with a bit of the egg; top with the remaining dough circle, pinching the ends to seal.

6 Preheat the oven to 375°F.

7 Make 20 cuts from the outside toward the centre of the circle, leaving 1" in the centre intact. Take one piece of dough and twist it four or five times; twist the next piece of dough in the opposite direction. Brush the ends of both pieces of dough with the egg and pinch them together to seal. Repeat with the remaining pieces.

8 Sprinkle with the remaining thyme and Parmesan. Bake until the bread is golden and sounds hollow when tapped, about 25 minutes.

Tips & Tricks

8 Scandi-chic decor ideas worth stealing this holiday season

Come winter, the coziness and understated beauty that define Scandinavian design are all the more welcome – and this Toronto abode lets it be known. Read on for eight Swedish decor ideas worth stealing this season.

1 Get adventive: Forgo the chocolate Advent calendar this year in favour of a fabulous DIY creation. Count down the days until Christmas with 24 mini paper gift bags. Embellish each with natural finds like twigs and sprigs of greenery before securing them onto a fabric-covered corkboard.

2 Embrace nature: Bring the serenity of Scandi style into your home by drawing inspiration from the wintry outdoors. Here, a fresh evergreen wreath and garland, bird ornaments and a stack of logs subtly spruce up the fireplace wall.

3 Style strategically: Nordic design is all about capturing the magic of minimalism – even at Christmas. Scope out simple yet striking seasonal adornments like the ornate paper snowflakes festooning this banister, which nod to the holidays but are still in keeping with the entryway’s calming neutral palette.

4 Pare back parcels: Let’s face it: Wrapping holiday presents in layers of red and green is a tad overdone. Go against the grain this year and opt for soft-hued paper, such as this white ribbed style. Then adorn your gifts with burlap ribbon and sleek DIY gift tags.

5 Add whimsy: While there’s nothing wrong with decking out your home in an array of colourful baubles, the Swedes favour subtler star-shaped decorations. Think of the bunting seen here as an alternative to string lights that’s quieter but still offers the same dreamy quality.

6 Create seasonal swag: Make your living space sparkle and shine by fashioning your own festive garland. Cut holiday shapes out of shimmery paper or wallpaper swatches and stitch them together delicately with white thread.

7 Welcome neutrals: How do you take a muted space from sterile to sophisticated? Home in on the details. Elements like mismatched chairs and a non-operational fireplace filled with logs lend enough interest to this bright dining room so that, come December, a few festive accents feel like plenty.

8 Layer textures: When temperatures dip into the negative double-digits, we crave all types of comfort. Emulate the Swedish way of combatting the cold with heaps of texture, whether through small details (stylish place settings and votive candle holders wrapped in yarn) or larger additions (a faux sheepskin throw).

House tour: Jillian Harris's eclectic dream home

House Tours

House tour: Jillian Harris's eclectic dream home

Canadian television personality Jillian Harris shares her experience of renovating her dream home in Kelowna, B.C., and falling in love with it all over again.

Jillian Harris, co-host of W Network’s Love It or List It Vancouver, is no stranger to people falling out of love with their houses. While house hunting in the picturesque town of Kelowna, B.C., just over two years ago, Jillian fell in love with the expansive yard, Okanagan Lake view and charming French vibe of this 25-year-old 2,500-square-foot house, which she now shares with her partner, Justin Pasutto, and their one-year-old boxer, Nacho. To her, the place was perfect. It made her heart race. “

But a week after she moved in, her dream home turned into a nightmare when the in-floor heating system broke. Then Jillian found out that before she could install a new forced-air system, she needed to replace the roof. “It was literally issue after issue within the first month,” she says.

The time came for the big decision. “I knew that with all these problems, I wouldn’t be able to sell the house,” says Jillian. “And if I repaired them, I would never get my money back.” Frustrated and fed up, she decided to go all out with a completely home renovation in order to fall in love with her home again, which meant addressing both the functional flaws as well as the cosmetic concerns that had developed after the honeymoon phase.

Photo Gallery

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Creating her dream home

In a four-month home renovation (which Jillian pre-planned and Justin project-managed while she was in Vancouver filming the TV show), walls were taken down, rooms were reconfigured and tiny windows were replaced with bifold doors to open the house up to the lake views. The resulting airy spaces were enhanced with a light and crisp neutral colour scheme of white and pale grey.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Living room

The living room design, which leads to the outdoor dining area through French doors, exemplifies homeowner Jillian Harris's eclectic sensibility. The clean-lined sofa, slipcovered slipper chairs, rustic coffee table, Louis XV-style bench and Moroccan pouffe combine to create "a room that looks like it has evolved over time," says Jillian.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

A bigger, beautiful kitchen

Jillian opened up the kitchen by taking out a wall between it and the dining room. "Now I can see the lake when I'm standing here in the kitchen," she says. To create the clean all-white space she wanted, Jillian had the orange and black granite countertops replaced with white quartz, which offers the look of marble without the maintenance. She also had the existing cream cabinetry painted white and changed the wrought-iron hardware for polished nickel. The new Moroccan-style backsplash adds pattern and shine.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Cozy kitchen sitting nook

Instead of placing a table in the kitchen's eat-in area, Jillian created a cozy sitting nook. "We're not big sit-down-at-a-table people. So we kept the formal dining space at the front of the house and then decided to go with a little seating area back here, and it's used quite often."

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Art Deco floor mirror

In the kitchen's sitting nook, a wood-framed floor mirror with a gold-coloured finish adds interest. "I love the Art Deco look of it," says Jillian. "It has such a different feel than anything else in the house."

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Gold accents

The gold accents throughout the kitchen can even be found on the table.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Pink guest room

A pink, grey and cream colour scheme gives the guest bedroom a pretty, feminine look. "We call it the pink palace," says Jillian. "I actually love pink. I would have the entire house in grey and pink if I could. But when you're living with a male, sometimes that's not always possible. So I decided to make this room pink."

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Timeless table lamp

The soft pink and gold table lamp in the guest bedroom boasts a sophisticated, timeless quality.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Antique dresser

An antique dresser handed down from Jillian's parents - her mother got it in her early 20s - lends character to the guest bedroom. The portrait, drawen by an Alberta artist, depicts Jillian as a young girl.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

A pink palette

The guest bed is adorned with pink and textured toss cushions to really tie the room's colour scheme together.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Inviting outdoor dining

Jillian gave the outdoor dining room area an inviting look by layering in soft elements like toss cushions and throws.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Adding warmth and romance

Illuminating the outdoor space with candles and string lights adds warmth and romance.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

The spread

A variety of cutting boards offers an interesting alternative to platters when Jillian serves a delicious spread of cheeses, fruits (the green grapes come from her own vines), breads, charcuterie and jams during summer backyard get-togethers.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

The perfect entertaining space

"We spend 99 percent of our time in the backyard during the summer. When entertaining outdoors, I love to use glass cloches. They keep the bugs out and give a nice high-end look to your tablescape."

Image by: Style at Home
By: Laura Muir
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: Jillian Harris' eclectic romantic dream home

Jillian's top 5 secrets for creating a cozy outdoor space

1 Layer the lighting: "Lighting is as important outside as it is inside. I created a layered effect by hanging filament bulb string lights, wrapping a couple of trees with twinkle lights, adding lanterns and putting candles on the table and fireplace. 2 Incorporate textiles: "I put a runner on the table and throws and toss cushions on the chairs, and even brought out an upholstered ottoman from inside. It warms things up a little bit and adds softness." 3 Add greenery to complement your surroundings: "I hung a simple boxwood garland on the fireplace mantel and placed clippings from around my yard in vases and Mason jars." 4 Create an outdoor bar: "It allows people to make their own cocktails and also gives a real swanky look to your party. I just used a basic bar cart, a nice tray and some classic liquers." 5 Hang artwork: "I've always loved putting mirrors outside. It really brings the inside out and gives th eimpression that your backyard is an extension of your living space. I look for cool inexpensive vintage art or metal mirrors that I can hang on the side of the house or fence."

Get the look: Sleek and modern home office

Office

Get the look: Sleek and modern home office

Get the look of interior designer Jenifer Glover's clutter-free workspace.

Tasked with creating her personal home office, interior designer Jenifer Glover lets one thing be known: Style is strategic. Here's how to mimic her masterful ways.

1 Make a giant bulletin board on the cheap with corkboard, burlap and grosgrain ribbon to maintain order and lend warmth and texture to a room.

2 Instead of searching high and low for a stylish t-shaped desk, construct one yourself by placing three tables together. Keep the expansive workspace clutter-free by storing everyday items in pretty baskets and pots.

3 Ditch flimsy file folders in favour of sturdy clipboards hung on a wall in a simple grid arrangement. Think of it as a practical take on the gallery wall. ideal for keeping track of important papers or showcasing inspiring photos and phrases.

4 Organizing shelves well is something of an art form. A reliable rule of thumb? Choose items in varied shapes and sizes, such as textured baskets and decorative objets, to add dimension and character.